Category: Blog

In our previous blog about the evolution of technology in the home, we emphasized how the value of our home contents has increased significantly. Meaning having your contents insured under your home insurance policy is vital and smart. Below are all our options available for home insurance that suits you.

You never know when you might have a situation like the McCallister’s…

We have a number of different products to suit your Home Insurance requirements:

1. Contents Only/Renters Insurance

As Ireland enters into Boom time levels of employment and housing issues, more people are renting now than ever before. People want the freedom to move around, move country and move jobs more easily. As you move around or rent on a long-term basis, why shouldn’t you be able to protect your contents?

Our Contents Only product will insure your contents against theft and accidental damage.

Be Specific

Specify what contents you have that need to be insured. For example, your engagement rings can be added to any home insurance policy. Other specified items we categorise include Jewellery, Camcorder, Laptop, Pedal Bikes, and Mobile Phones, Tablets or Musical instrument.

Value your contents at the correct amount. Ensure that you are including any sports equipment or unspecified valuable on cover.

Contents Only Key Features:

• Accidental damage to a range of electronics
• Accidental damage to a range of household finishes such as windows, glass, mirrors, ceramic hobs etc.
• Loss of keys
• 20% extra cover at Christmas to ensure your loved ones gifts are covered in case of burglary or damage stated in your policy documents.
• Extra cover for contents during the month prior and after weddings and civil partnerships
• Fire brigade costs
• Money and credit cards
• Fatal injury
• Our full list of features can be found here

For Contents Only Insurance Quotes, click here.

2. Owner Occupied Insurance

If you are looking for home insurance that covers both your home and contents, our product is the perfect choice for you. Key benefits on this product include those listed above in the contents only product with additional cover to the building(s) of your home. Family Legal Protection is included in this policy which allows you and your family, who live with you in the property, access to legal advice and representation. This includes a range of areas such as contract disputes, bodily injury, identity theft, clinical negligence and disputes regarding employment.

Discounts can be applied to your home insurance if you have no claims, burglar alarm fitted or smoke detectors. A voluntary excess can also be applied in order to reduce your premium.

For more info on owner-occupied insurance and online quotes click here!

3. Landlord Insurance

We help you protect your property and the risk of loss of rent with a Landlords Home Insurance product. Have peace of mind for your property in the event of fire, theft, perils or subsidence.

Landlord Home Insurance Key Features:

• Accidental damage to mains
• Legal liability cover to the public
• Garages or domestic outbuildings
• Fire brigade charges
• Loss of rent
• Loss of keys
• Landlords content cover
• All features can be found here

  For more info on our Landlords Home Insurance click here!

First Time Buyer Offer

We currently offer First Time Buyers a 10% discount on their Home Insurance. It is important to know that you do not have to go with your mortgage provider when it comes to your Home Insurance. Of course, all mortgage providers will have their own option available, but shopping around is key to Home Insurance as much as it is for Motor Insurance.

For a quote for first-time buyers, give us a call on 014092600 and quote our offer to our sales team or fill out an initial quote here.

Your home is the most expensive item you will ever purchase, and we Irish are a nation of people who like to own our homes. Is it any wonder that we like to fill our homes with all of the modern appliances that make life more comfortable for us. Perhaps we all have a little bit of “keeping up with the Jones’s” in us, so we are always upgrading or replacing things, and ensuring that we have the best and brightest and the latest model of everything in our homes.

It is therefore hard to believe that electrification of rural Ireland was only finalised in 1965 and not all homes were fully connected until 1975! 

Back in the seventies labour saving machines were enhancing the day to day work of the typical stay at home Mum, and devices like Twin Tub washing machines, Vacuum Cleaners, Electric kettles, Food Mixers, and Soda-Streams were a sign that you were successful and had made it.  You would have more time to relax in front of your Black and White Television in the evenings and, if you were doing really well you had a telephone in the hall.  Home security wasn’t really an issue, in fact, you probably left your doors unlocked. 

As the eighties crept in, our standards and expectations had increased, and with more women working outside the home, most families had Automatic Washing Machines, Colour Televisions with remote controls, wall mounted portable TV’s in the master bedroom, VHS Players, Sandwich Toasters, Dish Washers and the newest thing, the Microwave Oven.  There was now usually a phone in the hall, with an extension in the bedroom!  People became more conscious of crime and robberies and attempted to make their homes more secure.

Along came the nineties, and with this decade came En-Suite Bathrooms, Utility rooms, Bigger Televisions, DVD Players, Eco-Rated Kitchen Appliances, American Fridge Freezers.  The Internet was a new thing, and while the internet was not quite available in every home yet it was coming.   By the late nineties, laptops were replacing the computer in the corner of the kitchen.  The other big thing for this decade was the explosion of the mobile phone.   We could not have anticipated in the nineties just how much this would change peoples’ lives! We were fitting Burglar Alarms and CCTV systems on our homes to protect all of the fancy and attractive stuff we had accumulated.

How could things get any better?  How could we get any more sophisticated than the nineties?  Welcome to the Noughties.   We have flat screen TV’s, we have smart washers, dryers, ovens, dishwashers that have digital controls and beep at us when done. We have gone all healthy and have George Foreman Grills and we can check everything on Google. There is broadband in nearly every home, and the phones have gotten smart.  Very smart in fact.  We can now control our Intruder Alarms from our phones and we can record any suspicious activity around the home on our CCTV which can be connected to our laptops and phones.

So along comes the current decade, your TV could not get any flatter, any thinner, any wider unless of course, you installed a home cinema system.  

 There are TV’s in every room,  we have underfloor heating, we have centralised vacuum cleaning systems, the fridge makes ice, and warns us when the food is about to go off…..the kids all have tablets, we have laptops, we have smarter than smartphones, we have google, Spotify, apps for keeping fit, apps for dating, apps for music, heating, lights, alarms all controlled by your phone…….how we truly have evolved since those simple times in the seventies.

One thing remains the same however, we need to protect our treasured possessions against any unforeseen accidents, damage, and weather-related catastrophes and our worst nightmare of all, intruders and theft. 

At KennCo Insurance, we provide discounts on your home insurance for protection against intruders, theft and fires. Whether you are a homeowner, renter, first time buyer or landlord we can provide peace of mind with Home Insurance to suit your individual circumstances. Contact us today for details on 014092600 or fill out a quote online here!

Should insurance brokers and customers deal with financially unrated insurance providers?

This is a question that has been hugely prevalent in the last few years, particularly in Ireland. We’ve seen the chaos caused from the collapse of Quinn Insurance and every single insurance customer has been paying dearly for this since its collapse through government levies on all premiums. Prior to this, we saw this happen with the Independent Insurance Co., and since then we’ve had Setanta, Enterprise and more recently Alpha go into chaos. How are unrated insurance providers involved in this?

Because of the Third EU Directive, EU based insurers have far greater freedom to trade in other EU countries. In some cases, this Directive has been used in what appears to be bad faith, such as the Setanta Insurance Co. This was a company promoted by Irish businessmen, some from brokerages here but formed in Malta where the financial regulations are far less stringent than in Ireland for example. So after capitalizing in Malta, how many policies did they write in Malta? Not one from what we can figure out. They wrote all of their business in Ireland and through one network of insurance brokers, some of the same brokers thought to have invested in this company in the first place! The company had a small amount of liquid capital yet it aggressively wrote motor business in Ireland at cheaper rates than all other competitors with better cover. How can this be?

Well it usually can’t! And what should happen when a small, unrated insurer trading from the likes of Malta and/or Gibraltar is writing lots of business in another country such as Ireland? Well, it’s time to worry about those unrated insurance providers.

The only way these small insurers can write any kind of volume is by partnering with large reinsurance companies. This gives them the leverage to write a lot more business. However, it doesn’t give any extra protection whatsoever to the customer. These reinsurers have no contract with the policyholder. They are only required to pay their proportion of claims made once the insurance company remains solvent. But if this insurer goes wallop, the large reinsurance company gleefully heads off to another small insurer, without any claims to pay. They may have taken 75% of the premium from the insurance company and as long as that insurance company remains solvent, they must pay for 75% of the claims. But when the insurer becomes insolvent, the reinsurer gets to keep the premium and has no liability for the claims.

So who’s on the hook then for all claims costs?

You the customer!

Always be very wary when a small insurance company talks more about their reinsurance partners than themselves!

Neither Gibraltar nor Malta based insurers operate Compensation Funds, so when the insurer goes, so does your premium and cover.

However the recent collapse of Alpha, trading out of Denmark also brought the Danish Compensation Fund into focus.

Some Danish insurers trading in the UK and Ireland maintain the Danish Compensation Fund will fully cover customers in the event of an insurer collapse.

The Alpha collapse proved this is not quite the case to UK customers.                            

The Danish Compensation Fund covers against third party claims for compulsory covers only and only for a period of 4 weeks after the insurer collapse.

So this means if you’d insured your home or factory with Alpha, you’d have no protection if it went on fire.

It also means that your own car wouldn’t be covered. Even if damaged or stolen and your premium would be kept by the liquidator.

Furthermore, if you’ve caused an injury to someone without realizing it and they report their loss to you more than 4 weeks after the collapse of your Danish insurer, you’re going to be stuck with that bill.

Is this what you had in mind when you bought insurance cover for your motor, home or commercial property?

Should brokers be advising customers to save just a few euros on their insurance premium by switching to a small, unrated insurance company, be it Gibraltar, Malta or Denmark?      

Too often insurance has become about price alone, rather than the quality of the provider. What’s the point in having cheap insurance when you don’t know how solvent the insurer is behind it?

Insurance customers as a rule seem to expect 5 Star Quality for 3 Star Prices. But in what other industry will you get this?

Insurance, particularly motor is a ‘grudge buy’, of that there is no doubt. It is compulsory and rightly therefore subjected to a lot financial regulation. However, because of the EU Freedom of Services, it’s very difficult for the Irish Regulators to do anything about these small insurers trading out of smaller jurisdictions.

That’s why you need to be more than just selective about which insurance company you place your cover with. Price is important of course. But not nearly as important as the financial security of the company alleging to protect your interests.

Brokers should be vigilant about this, more so than any customer because they’re in the business.

So ask the right questions of your broker the next time you get a favorable quote. Who is the insurer? Where are they domiciled? Why are they trading in Ireland and for how long? Why aren’t they prepared to be financially rated? How much cash is in the company? How do I know they’ll be around long enough to pay my claim? What guarantees can you give me about this? What do you advise me to do?

We expect insurance companies to be prudent but so should you.

For peace of mind and proper protection, why would you insure yourself with an unrated insurance provider?

Other reasons for increasing premiums are discussed in our blog here.

Buying your first home will bring on a range of emotions over the course of the process. From preparing, searching, waiting and finally signing on the dotted line. We believe that worrying about your new home should be left to the experts. Although, as a homeowner, you are not legally obliged to have home insurance, your mortgage lender can insist that you have a minimum protection of buildings insurance. Your lender will have first-time buyer Home Insurance options available to you when you have been mortgage approved. There are many options available to you as a first-time buyer, so shop around and see how KennCo compares.

Home Insurance Tips for First-time Buyers

1. Know what your policy includes and excludes

Home Insurance policies can differ from providers. Ensure you are up to speed on exactly what is included and excluded in your policy. KennCo provides Home Insurance across Ireland and offers a range of key benefits from the loss of keys up to €500, fatal injury cover up to €10,000, family legal protection, accidental damage cover for buildings & contents and many more. All our key benefits can be viewed in our Home Policy Summary of Key Facts here. Protecting your most expensive asset is a necessity in terms of giving you peace of mind knowing you are covered if something happens to your home. Two very useful key benefits to KennCo’s Home Insurance product are a counselling helpline and Family Legal Protection.

2. Decreasing your premium

Lower your premium by selecting an excess option. Many companies will allow you to agree to a higher excess cost resulting in your overall premium being lower. Another option is to spread your payments out by paying through monthly installments*.

3. Accurately state the value for both your home and contents

Ensure you accurately state the value of your home and contents as this directly impacts your calculated rebuild cost. It is important to note that this could impact on an insurance claim on your policy. A first-time buyer Home Insurance policy will begin with 0 no claims bonus but you can get considerable discounts when you begin to build this up. For example, KennCo offers up to 30% off for 3 years no claims bonus on Home Insurance.

4. Mortgage lenders Indemnity Letter

Your mortgage provider could require a letter of indemnity from your Home Insurance provider. This indemnity letter could be required in order to satisfy the requirements of your mortgage. You can request this from your Home Insurance provider to outline the particulars of your cover.

We currently offer 10% off your new Home Insurance policy for a first-time buyer. Call us today on 0818252025 for a quote. You can also fill out an initial online quote through http://bit.ly/HomeFirstTimeBuyers  and call us to apply your 10% discount. **

For more on what KennCo Home Insurance cover click here.

*Deposit required upfront (30% of total premium) with the remainder of the premium paid over the following 9 months.
**Information correct as at 17/07/18. Subject to change. 

Finding the right home for your needs, arranging finance and transferring all of your possessions can mean that moving home can be a stressful time. But there are ways to make it easier…

Pack Essentials Separately

Pack essentials such as your kettle, milk, snacks, toilet paper, cutlery or medication separately. Once you’ve brought all of your belongings to your new home, the last thing you want is to have to search through dozens of boxes to find your kettle to have a cup of tea. 

Make Copies of Important Documents

No matter how organised you are, items or documents can go missing when you’re moving home. So it’s a good idea to make copies of your important documents before you start to pack. If you do misplace them, the job of replacing them will be much easier if you have copies containing reference numbers etc. 

Declutter

Moving to a new home is a great time to get rid of any unwanted clutter that has built up in your home over the years. Before loading everything into boxes, separate them into three different categories; keep, discard or charity. The more time you spend organising your possessions before you go, the less time you’ll spend organising when you get to your new home. 

Use Labelled Boxes

Don’t go down the black plastic bag route if you’re moving home. Boxes are an easier option as they’re easier to transport, stack and label. Determine a labelling plan before you begin. It’s a good idea to not only give a description of what’s in the box, but also what room they belong to. 

Clean Before You Unpack 

Don’t start unpacking until you have given the house a good clean. Cleaning takes half the time if you do it before you’ve scattered all of your possessions around your new home.  Leave your windows open while you’re cleaning to get a fresh flow of air around your new home and to reduce dust. 

Update your Address

Don’t forget to inform your insurance and utility providers that you’ve moved address. Update your address 2 or 3 weeks before you leave your old home. That way you won’t have to rely on your old home’s new tenant to forward on your letters. 

Update Your Home Insurance

Don’t forget to ring your Home Insurance company to update them on your change of circumstances. Depending on what type and size home you’re moving to, you may need to pay more or get a refund from your home insurance company. This also applies to your car insurance policy as your premium is based on where you park your car too. 

Car Sales Market 2017

The car sales market performed better than expected in 2016, with car sales increasing by 17% compared to the previous year. However the trend did not continue in 2017. Sales have been lower for every month in 2017 compared to the same months last year. We are now half way through the 3^rd quarter of the year with the total decrease being at 9.37%. 

Along with the changes in car sales figures, there’s also been some movement between which cars have made it to the top ten and their position in the rankings. So what car the best selling cars of 2017?

1. Hyundai Tucson

The Hyundai Tucson has maintained its position as the number 1 selling car in Ireland for the second year in a row. The reasonably priced family car has benefited from in the increased popularity of crossover cars and with its sleek design and spacious interior; it has managed to fend of competition such as the Qashqai, to make it to the top. 

Starting Price: €26,245

2. Nissan Qashqai – (↑3)

The Qashqai has moved up 3 places making it the second most popular car with a market share of 3.3%. The Qashqai’s popularity further highlights the increase in demand for crossover vehicles in Ireland at the moment. Despite having a similar starting price to the Tucson, it may lack a little in style and space compared with the number one vehicle but it’s a close call. 

Starting Price: €25,620

3. Volkswagen Golf (↓1)

The VW Golf has dropped in the rankings in the last two years in Ireland. The Golf was the best-selling car back in 2015, but has dropped a position each year since. This may be as a result of the emissions scandal but Golf sales still remain high within the Irish Car market.  

The Volkswagen’s reliability and a style to satisfy a wide demographic are contributing factors to the golf’s success in Ireland. Car owners may find themselves paying a little extra for a golf compared to similar car models but Irish drivers obviously think that a Golf car is worth it.

Starting Price: €20,895

4. Ford Focus (↓1)

The rise of the Qashqui has pushed another car down in the rankings with the Ford Focus moving from 3^rd to 4^th position. The Focus has been a favourite with Irish drivers in the past few years, and based on its style, it’s not hard to see why. The Focus is a fun car to drive and its safety features are great too. However it hasn’t proven itself to be the most reliable option out there and if you go for the basic model, you may find that the interiors may be lacking a bit. 

Starting Price: €23,745

5. Skoda Octavia (↓1)

The Octavia remains a popular choice with Irish drivers. The only saloon in the top 5 of the best selling cars, the Octavia packs plenty of punch. But Skoda wasn’t always a popular brand. Skoda is still recovering from their poor reputation years ago. So despite being a reliable and attractive car now, the price has remained very reasonable.  If you want bang for your buck, you should turn to the Octavia.

Starting Price: €19,750

And the rest…

6. Ford Fiesta 7. Kia Sportage 8. Toyota Yaris 9. Toyota Corolla 10. Renault Megane

If you’re thinking of buying a new car this year, contact KennCo for a Car Insurance Quote on 01 409 2600. 

More information available at beepbeep.ie

As nationwide incentives are increased the move to go electric is growing year on year. Check out the top 10 best selling ecars of 2019 here.

The information below provides useful information in relation to your policy. This Policy Summary does not contain the full terms and conditions of your Household Policy. Subject to change. Correct as at 31 May 2017. 

Section 1 – Material Loss or Damage to the Building of your Home

• A wide range of covers are provided under the Buildings section including: Fire, Lightning, Explosion and Earthquake
• Storm, Flood and Weight of Snow
• Persons taking part in Labour Disturbances, Malicious Damage and Vandalism
• Escape of water from and frost damage to fixed water tanks, apparatus or pipes
• Escape of oil from a fixed domestic oil-fired heating installation
• Collision or impact involving any vehicle, train, aircraft or other aerial devices
• Theft (or Attempted Theft)
• Subsidence or Ground Heave
• Accidental Damage In addition you are covered for:
• Loss of Rent or Alternative accommodation up to 10% of the sum insured on buildings
• Accidental Damage to Glass and Sanitary Fittings
• Fire Brigade Charges up to €2,000
• Trace and Access up to €1,500
• Garden Cover up to €2,000
• Professional Fees and Costs

Section 2 – Material Loss or Damage to Contents of your Home

• A wide range of covers are provided under the Buildings section including:
• Fire, Lightning, Explosion and Earthquake
• Storm, Flood and Weight of Snow
• Persons taking part in Labour Disturbances, Malicious Damage and Vandalism
• Escape of water from and frost damage to fixed water tanks, apparatus or pipes
• Escape of oil from a fixed domestic oil-fired heating installation
• Collision or impact involving any vehicle, train, aircraft or other aerial devices
• Theft (or Attempted Theft)
• Subsidence or Ground Heave
• Accidental Damage

In addition you are covered for:

• Money up to €650
• Credit Cards up to €900
• Jewellery up to 10% of the contents sum insured with a limit of €1,500 per item
• Loss of Keys up to €500
• Freezer Cover up to €750 per unit
• Loss of Rent or Alternative Accommodation up to 10% of the contents sum insured
• Contents sum insured automatically increased by 20% at Christmas Compensation of €10,000 for death of Insured

Section 3 – Personal Effects

This section is only available if cover for Section two – Contents is included.

The limit in respect of any one item is €1,000 unless you have specified otherwise and the item is shown in the schedule.

Cover is available away from your home anywhere in the territorial limits and elsewhere in the world for a period not exceeding 60 days in any one period of insurance for loss or damage by any external or visible cause to your personal effects.

You may also extend cover to include cover for Pedal Cycles (Optional Extension 1)

Section 4 – Your Legal Liability to the Public

You are covered up to €3,000,000 for your legal liability to the Public.

Family Legal Protection

Family Legal Protection is a legal expenses insurance contract. It will help you by providing legal advice and representation if you, or family members who always live with you, have a legal dispute which is insured under the policy.

Insured incidents which are covered include:

• Contract Disputes
• Identity Theft
• Bodily Injury
• Clinical Negligence
• Employment Disputes
• Property Protection
• Tax Protection
• Jury Service and Court Attendance
• Legal Defence

This Policy is a complex document and contains a large number of specific terms relevant in specific circumstances. Many of these terms may however be extended, curtailed or removed in individual cases, depending on the nature of the risks being insured and those covers requested. The policy may also contain warranties describing actions that you must take or avoid for any cover to operate.

In respect of all of the above sections you should refer to your policy wording for full details of cover and exclusions.

Sums Insured

In order to protect yourself against underinsurance we recommend that you review your sums insured on a regular basis. If needs be get a professional valuation of your property.

Business Use

There is no cover provided for any property held in connection with any business, trade or professional purpose other than home office equipment as referred to within the definition of contents.

Excesses Applicable

• A standard excess of €250 and €500 excess for escape of water claims applies to the Home Choice product. The standard excess is
  increased to €350 on Home Unique where the escape of water excess is €1,000.
• €500 applies in respect of weight of snow claims
• €1,500 in respect of Subsidence or Ground Heave claims

Cover your home with KennCo Home Insurance by clicking here or calling 01 409 2600. 

*Information correct as at 31/5/17. Subject to change. 

Purchasing home insurance cover can be an important step towards protecting your home. Home Insurance is not required by law in Ireland however you may be required to purchase a policy if you are taking out a mortgage. It can seem like a tedious task if you’re shopping around looking for the best price especially if you’re not even sure what is supposed to be looking for.  So what does a standard policy include and what should your home insurance cover? 

KennCo Home Insurance policies are sold as single policies which include: 

• Buildings Cover
• Contents Cover 
• Personal Effects 

Buildings Cover

Buildings cover is there to cover the costs of rebuilding your home in the event of a claim. It’s your responsibility to calculate the price of rebuilding your home. We’ve given some hints on how your can accurately do this in How to Value your House for Home Insurance.

It’s important that you give the correct rebuilding amount and update it annually with your insurance company if you’ve made any changes to your home. If you’ve underestimated that cost, your insurance company will not pay anything exceeding the amount you have stated. 

Rebuilding costs may include the cost of replacing your fixture and fittings and outbuildings, architect’s fees, planning permission fees etc.

Contents Cover

This covers the costs of replacing your belongings within your house. You will receive the costs of replacing these items at their current price.  However there are a few exceptions where deductions will be made from the current price based on wear and tear. This can include televisions, home computers, game consoles. A full list of these items can be found in the home insurance policy booklet.  Any valuables worth over €1500 must be specified separately. 

Personal Effects

Personal effects covers the cost of replacing an new items that can be moved about easily by hand such as jewellery, mobile phone or laptops. A full list of items can be found in your policy document. 

If you have any more queries regarding what our home insurance policies cover, please do not hesitate to call 01 409 2600 for more information. 

Disclaimer: The above information is correct at the time of publication on 1 February 2017. Subject to change. 

Cars for New Drivers

Before a new driver decides which car to buy, there are many different factors that they must take into account. The car’s age, condition and costs are all important factors when buying a used car. Below is a list of the top 5 cars for new drivers. If you’re thinking of buying a used car, you should also check out our tips for buying a used car.

Before we give a rundown of cars, here are a few things to consider when looking for a new car:

Age – Older cars are generally less reliable than newer cars as they are inclined to be used more often, causing wear and tear to the parts. An older car may be cheaper, but it could lead to more costly visits to the garage. 

Condition – Always ensure you read reviews on different car brands before viewing or buying a car. Always check the car’s interior and exterior. 

Cost – When it comes to cost, sometimes the car can be the least expensive item. Always take into account the cost of petrol, motor tax, insurance, car services. 

We have looked at 4 cars that we believe tick all the right boxes when it comes to safety, comfort, size and price. 

Volkswagen Polo (2009 -) 

The Polo is a classy, compact and dependable car that would suit the needs of any newly qualified driver. The steering and controls are light which help to make low speed manoeuvres. All models have an electronic stability programme which helps keep control of the car in a skid. This model comes with four airbags, ABS anti lock brakes and a system to reduce whiplash injuries. There is a decent amount of space inside with plenty of head and leg room.  This car is extremely reliable so if you can afford to buy a WV Polo, this could be the car for you.  

Engine: 1.2 litre petrol

Mileage: 62mpg

Euro NCAP: 5  Star

Annual Road Tax: €280

Insurance Group: 7

Price: €8000 +

Ford Fiesta (2009- ) 

All Fiestas come with stability control and seven airbags including full length curtain bags and a driver’s knee bag. The Fiesta is economical and cheap to insure. Fords are expertly built and have loads of seat space and they give good support to your back when driving long distances. It’s a reliable car and inexpensive to service.

Engine: 1.2 litre petrol Euro NCAP: 5 Star Mileage: Up to 70mpg Annual Road Tax: €280 Insurance Group: 7 Price: €5000 +

Toyota Yaris 

The Toyota Yaris is a very economical and efficient car. It has high steering, good brakes and a smooth, easy gearshift. It a very handy town car but is also comfortable on long journeys when required. Safety features include seven airbags, electronic stability control and front and rear seat belt buzzer warnings. Some Models have an emergency brake signal system; in the event of an emergency stop it activates the cars hazard lights along with brake lights to warn other vehicles.

Engine: 1.3 litre petrol

Mileage: 65.7 mpg

Annual Road Tax: €358

Insurance Group: 7

Price: €5000 +

Mini Cooper ONE (2007 – ) 

Is there a more desirable car for the young free and single than the mini cooper? There is just enough room for three friends and their stuff for longer journeys or trips. The controls are conveniently positioned and are easy to use. The seats can be easily adjusted. Standard equipment on the Mini One includes air-conditioning, key-less engine starting, Bluetooth, a DAB radio and a USB socket. It comes with 6 airbags and seat belt pre-tensioners. 

Engine: 1.4 litre petrol

EURO NCAP: 4 Star

Mileage:48.8 mpg

Annual Road Tax: €385

Insurance Group: 12

Price: €6000 +

Whatever car you decide to buy KennCo are always on hand to offer you quality young drivers car insurance at an affordable price backed up by first class service.  Our team are here to help you get the policy and cover you need.

For more information please call us on 01 409 2600 to talk to one of our Insurance advisers. 

Wondering Why Your Car Insurance is Increasing?

Car Insurance increasing is a hot topic right now because everyone is feeling it in their pockets. Here are a few reasons why this change has happened. 

Firstly, most insurers in Ireland were pricing car insurance too low for a number of years so as losses mount, they inevitably have to recoup these losses. 

But while lots of journalists like to write their articles from the ‘man on the street’ view in order to ingratiate themselves with their readers, under-pricing is not the reason for the big increases.

Since 2012, the increase in the number of ‘whiplash’ injury claims being made is up massively. As a rule, whiplash is actually quite rare and is almost non-existent in many European countries. Yet in Ireland, every day of the week, in very minor collisions, there are people running off to their solicitor with so called ‘whiplash’. They’re then sent to a doctor, who’ll pocket around €250 for writing a one page report which simply repeats the complaints made by the ‘whiplash’ patient. This so called medical then gives the solicitor what he needs – a doctor agrees in writing that my client is ‘injured’.

So then the solicitor has to process the claim firstly through the Injuries Board. However many of them see this as a stepping stone. They advise their client not to show up for the medical examination arranged by the Injuries Board (another doctor who pockets huge fees for more or less doing the same thing as the claimants’ doctor) which means the Injuries Board can’t make a realistic award. Happy days, it’s now out of their clutches and the solicitor gets to demand a ridiculously large sum of money for someone who is clearly either not injured at all or heavily exaggerating while at the same time charging massive legal fees for very straightforward work.

So why do the insurers pay these large amounts? Because judges hearing these cases appear only too happy to dole out even bigger money once it reaches court. It also costs a fortune to run a case. And even if you win, you lose as the insurer because the cost of running a case you win can’t be recovered from the claimant who will plead they’re skint and can’t pay it. Even when judges do find the claimant to be fraudulent, they don’t believe it’s a criminal matter and simply dismiss the claim and off heads the fraudster to think up another way to make money.

Insurers aren’t white knights by any means but the argument is always made so simple – bloody insurers!

Alan Shatter was determined to increase the jurisdiction of the courts and he was successful so now all awards have gone up and why? Because the judges can simply make bigger awards in their courts now, no other logical reason.

So the Injuries Board was meant to take solicitors out of the equation but failed badly.

Doctors only ever see injured victims

Judges don’t seem to care about fraud and appear happy to give out huge sums of money for no good reason

But, it’s all the insurers’ fault, right? What do you think?